Interests
This page is dedicated to providing more information regarding my interests (in no particular order). Right now it is fairly basic but I hope to add to it as I have more time (i.e. never).
Radio Controlled Cars: I have been into RC cars since I bought a Tamiya ClodBuster when I was around 10 years old. I can distinctly remember reading RC car magazines during class in 5th grade. I saved all my Christmas, birthday, and allowance money for a year and a half to buy a JR-X2 when I was 11. I have always enjoyed building them and working on them more than racing them (although I have several trophies from local club races). I have had numerous cars over the years including Associated’s RC-10 B2, Associated’s Nitro TC3, Kyosho’s Inferno DX and Kanai II, Team Losi’s JR-X Pro, and Traxxas’ E-Max. Two great sources about RC cars are RC411 and Radio Controlled Car Action. I currently have NO RC cars since I have no time or space to maintain them. I hope to get back into the hobby when I buy a home some day or have kids….
Basketball: Growing up I started playing soccer when I was 5. By the time I graduated high school I was one of the top high school players in the state of Michigan (on the 2nd ranked team in the state for class B schools). However, I fell in love with basketball despite not playing an organized game until I was in 8th grade. I played in high school and through my hustle (I am not a great shooter) became a starter on our high school team. We were eventually ranked #14 in the state for class B in 1996. Our team still holds many records at my high school for our prolific scoring (over 100pts several times). Since high school, I have tried to continue playing through intramural leagues or just for fun.
As a fan of the sport, my favorite player of all time is Scottie Pippen. I think I always appreciated his sidekick status. My favorite player currently is Dwyane Wade and was thrilled that the Miami Heat won the 2006 NBA finals. Never a big fan of Detroit (usually to antagonize my family in Detroit), I began following the Bulls in 1989 when they were playing the Pistons in playoffs. Even though they fell short that year (and in 1990), I guess I jumped on the bandwagon at the right time since they won 6 championships between 1991 and 1998. I still watch NBA basketball regularly now but not college. I have always been a fan of players, not teams. As a result of all the early departures of college’s top players, I find college talent to not only be watered down but also difficult to invest energy into since the next year, the players I followed will be gone. I am also concerned with the quality of USA basketball and am hopeful that we can turn around the program in time for the next Olympics.
Camping
When I was young, I was a Cub Scout (I attained Bobcat, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos badges). In 5th grade I joined Boy Scouts (where I eventually attained Eagle Scout and the Order of the Arrow). This lasted until I was 18. Therefore, I have been enjoying the outdoors for the majority of my life. I really enjoy the time alone and doing traditionally indoors things like cooking, sleeping, etc outdoors. One of my favorite trips I have taken was to Isle Royale in Lake Superior.
Reading
A list of my favorite books (again in no particular order). Right now it is short but I plan to add more:
- Treasure Island - In my opinion the classic adventure novel. Long John Silver is wonderfully complex and the story beautifully told.
- Count of Monte Cristo - A tale of revenge told very elegantly.
- El Alquimista - I only read this in Spanish (can’t vouch for the English version). Very simple but profound.
- Dragonlance Cronicles Trilogy - ok so this is a list of three novels. A great fantasy series.
- Wheel of Time Series (first 3-5 books) - I have not finished this series because it has gotten ridiculous (12+ books). However, book 1 (Eye of the World) and book 2 (The Great Hunt) are fantastic.
- Ender’s Game - Have not read the sequels but this is a good one.
- Dragon Riders of Pern - I have only read the first three but they were excellent.
Video Games
I have been into video games as long as I can remember. I distinctly remember my dad having an Atari 2600. Me and my step-brother (Matt) would play that with my dad for hours. For christmas 1987, I got a Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). This along with the Legend of Zelda kept me busy for months. I wish I had a list of all the games I beat over the years but I am betting it is in the hundreds. Call me old school, but I kinda miss the games of the past with an emphasis on gameplay, with limited lives and continues. At one time in my life or another I have had almost every system that ever came out. Two of my favorites were the Turbo Grafix 16 and the Nintendo 64. I probably had the most fun with those two systems. My favorite games are the Metal Gear series, Resident Evil series, Mario Bros III (whole series is pretty nice), and the Metroid series. I now have only the Xbox 360. Elder Scrolls IV and Gears of War are possibly the best games in their respective genres (RPG and 3rd person action shooter) that I have ever played. Burnout Revenge is not too shabby either.
Hip Hop
My top 10 rap albums (1990-1998; golden age of hip hop):
Honorable Mention: BlackStar (Mos Def and Talib Kweli), Capital Punishment (Big Pun), Hard to Earn (GangStarr), The Infamous (Mobb Deep)
10. Aquemini - OutKast: Remember when Andre 3000 rapped? If not check this album out.
9. Only Build for Cuban Linx - Raekwon (and Ghostface Killah): Introduced the mafioso style storytelling often imitated but never duplicated. I am still discovering new things in this album to this day.
8. Illmatic - Nas: Introduced the world to a quiet street poet from Queensbridge. DJ Premier production doesn’t hurt.
7. Death Certificate - Ice Cube: This is the Ice Cube that scared America, spoke his mind, and didn’t give a #@!&. One of the reasons why I fell in love with hip hop. I miss this Ice Cube.
6. Reasonable Doubt - Jay-Z: Jay-Z has not come close to duplicating this album. Swagger rap at its best.
5. Liquid Swords - GZA: Best solo album by any Wu-Tang member. Clean, cool, and collected. Defines flow.
4. Ready to Die - Notorious BIG: Brought NY rap back to the forefront. Incredible storytelling and lyricism.
3. Me Against the World - Tupac Shakur: Tupac’s most poetic (and dark) work. While not the reason why Tupac is famous
(All Eyez on Me takes that honor), it is the reason why he is remembered.
2. The Chronic - Dr. Dre: Introduced the world to Snoop Doggy Dogg and G-Funk. Albums are trying to copy its style to this day.
1. Enter the 36 Chambers - Wu-Tang Clan: 9 MCs each with a distinct style. Classic RZA production and masterful imagery. Perhaps the best group track ever in “Protect Ya Neck”.
Humor
If one were to track my TV watching habits over my lifetime, they would find that I probably have spent 95% of my television viewing watching comedies. I enjoy all types of humor and love reading humors newspapers or magazines. Here are some links to my favorites.
Movies
My 10 favorite movies. Notice that these are my favorites (not what 10 movies I consider the finest pieces of cinema). This is not an ordered list despite the numbers.
10. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - Unbelievable music score and cinematography. Makes the western an artform.
9. Blade Runner - Film noir meets sci-fi. There are criticisms of this movie but it has style and atmosphere in spades.
8. Enter the Dragon - Bruce Lee’s most polished Hollywood movie. Great lines (”You come straight outta a comic book!”) and action show pieces for Lee.
7. Monty Python and the Holy Grail - “Bring me a shrubbery!”, “It’s only a flesh wound!”. Need I say more?
6. Carlito’s Way - If such a thing exists, this is a thinking man’s Scarface. While Pacino has had meatier roles, I find this his most entertaining.
5. Raging Bull - In my opinion a showcase for Robert DeNiro. I can’t think of a better character study.
4. Unforgiven - A good (but not great) movie until the final 1/4. However, the final scene and its powerful portrayal of moral ambiguity and justice earn it a spot on my list.
3. Apocalypse Now - A complex and haunting tale of war and the toll it takes on all involved.
2. Godfather Part II - Incredible acting by DeNiro and Pacino. A tour de force.
1. Caddyshack - Best American comedy of all time (in my opinion naturally). Dangerfield, Chase, and Murray all in their prime. Every other line is hilarious.